Standhardinger, Perez neck and neck in BPC race

MANILA, Philippines — Ginebra workhorse Christian Standhardinger and San Miguel Beer star CJ Perez run neck and neck in the Best Player of the Conference derby of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.

Standhardinger holds pole position with 35.7 average statistical points at the end of the semifinal stage, slightly ahead of Perez, who cards 35.5.

NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino sits at third with 35.1 followed by TNT’s Calvin Oftana with 34.1 while Gin Kings star Scottie Thompson occupies fifth with 31.0 and rounds out the five candidates in the short list.

Standhardinger, who accounts for 16.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the deposed champs, is in the running for back-to-back after snaring the BPC plum in the Season 47 Governors’ Cup. The Fil-German has two in his belt, counting his win in the 2019 Governors’ Cup.

Perez, a vital cog in star-studded SMB with 16.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 steals, is eyeing his first BPC after consistently contending but falling short the past couple of conferences.

Tolentino, the top local scorer with 22.4 markers, is also eyeing a maiden BPC like Oftana, who has blossomed into TNT’s premier player with 21.8 points and 6.6 dimes.

Thompson, the Season 46 MVP, looms as a dark horse for a third BPC after previous feats in the Season 46 Governors’ Cup and Season 47 Commissioner’s Cup.

Meanwhile, the race for the Best Import award is down to SMB’s Bennie Boatwright (60.3 average SPs), Phoenix’ Johnathan Williams (50.7), Magnolia’s Tyler Bey (50.6) and Ginebra’s Tony Bishop (44.3).

Winners will be determined after computing statistics and votes from fellow players and media.